Georgian Mining Corp. said Jan. 30 that a maiden mineral resource estimate for the Kvemo Bolnisi East deposit of its Bolnisi copper-gold project in Georgia has been released, based on initial drill results.

The company said that initial optimized in-pit mineable resource estimate is 702,000 tonnes grading 0.99% copper and 0.17 g/t of gold, part of a larger copper-gold inferred mineral resource of 947,000 tonnes grading 0.94% copper and 0.15 g/t of gold.

The initial in-situ combined gold oxide indicated and inferred Mineral Resource is at 204,000 tonnes at an average grade of 0.83 g/t of gold.

Joint venture partner Caucasian Mining Group Ltd. will process both copper-gold sulfide and gold oxide mineralization from the deposit at nearby facilities.

"We are successfully implementing our strategy to develop mineral resources at KB suitable for processing at the neighboring Madneuli plants to generate positive and sustainable cash flow," said Georgian Mining managing director Greg Kuenzel, adding that the cash generated will fund future exploration and development of Bolnisi.

Georgian Mining said that significant opportunities exist to substantially expand these initial mineral resources as an additional 7,500 meters of drilling is completed in the first half. It is also undertaking further work to expand the gold oxide resource.